take suhoor (the meal before fasting starts). The difference between the fast of a Muslim and the fast of others is the taking of suhoor (from Muslim)

This is recommended

DO…

delay the suhoor to as close to Fajr as possible.

This is recommended

DO…

hasten to break the fast at Maghrib time

This is recommended

DO…

try to break your fast with dates, as this is a sunnah. If dates aren’t available, break your fast with water

This is recommended

DO…

make a dua at the time of breaking the fast, eg. ‘O Allah, for you I have fasted and on Your Provision I have broken the fast’ [Abu Dawud]‘The thirst is gone, the veins are moisten and the reward is certain, insha’Allah’ [Au Dawud]‘Indeed there is for the fasting person, when he breaks his fast, a supplication which is not rejected.’ [Ibn Majah, al-Hakim]

This is recommended

DO…

Use a miswak during fasting, as this is sunnah

This is recommended

DO…

Exercise patience

DO…

Ask Allah for His Mercy and Forgiveness

DO…

Engage in Islamic acts of worship and good, eg. Give in charity, be good to your neighbour, show good character

DO…

Read the Qur’anThe Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: ‘The best among you is he who learns the Holy Qur’an and teaches it.’

From Bukhari & Muslim

DO…

Increase your Islamic knowledge

DO…

Get rid of any innovated practices from your habits

DO…

Make dua to Allah frequently during the day and night

DO…

Be generous. ‘The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was the most generous of men and he was the most generous during Ramadan when Jibreel would visit him every night and recite the Holy Qur’an to him.’

From Bukhari & Muslim

DO…

Provide something to a person who is fasting, to break his fast‘He who provides something to the observer of fast for breaking the fast earns the same reward as the one who observes the fast, without diminishing.’

From Ahmad & Tirmidhi

DO…

Pray the night prayer

DO…

Practice I’tikaf (seclusion in the masjid) in the last 10 days of RamadanAishah (ra) reported that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) used to perform I’tikaf during the last ten days of Ramadan until Allah the Mighty and Majestic, took away his life, then his wives followed this practice after him.’

From Bukhari & Muuslim

DO…

Seek Laylatul Qadr in the last 10 days of Ramadan

DO…

Give your Zakat-ul-Fitr before Eid

This is obligatory

DON’T…

Deliberately eat anything during the fast, unless you are not physically able to complete the fast . You are forgiven if you have forgotten you were fasting

This breaks the fast

DON’T…

Deliberately drink anything during the fast, unless you are not physically able to complete the fast. You are forgiven if you have forgotten you were fasting

This breaks the fast

DON’T…

Deliberatley engage in sexual intercourse during the fast. You are forgiven if you have forgotten you were fasting

This breaks the fast

DON’T…

lie

From Bukhari & Muslim

DON’T…

Slander

From Bukhari & Muslim

DON’T…

Backbite

From Bukhari & Muslim

DON’T…

Swear or use other bad language

From Bukhari & Muslim

DON’T…

Raise your voice or argue

From Bukhari & Muslim

DON’T…

Engage in indecent actions

From Bukhari

DON’T…

Forget that if you are travelling, you have the option to not fast and make up for that fast later on.Aisha reported that Hamzah Ibn Amr Al-Aslamee (ra) asked: ‘O Messenger of Allah (pbuh) I am a person who fasts often, so should I fast while travelling?’ Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) replied, ‘Fast if you wish and refrain from fasting if you wish.’

From Bukhari & Muslim

DON’T…

Fast if you are on your menstrual cycle (women). You must make up for this fast later

DON’T…

Deliberately make yourself vomit

This breaks the fast

DON’T…

Take injections or drugs that are used instead of food

This breaks the fast

DON’T…

Delay breaking your fast

DON’T…

Smoke or take drugs

DON’T…

Worry about the following:

swallowing saliva,

putting on perfume,

gargling water in your mouth and nose for things like cleaning and wudhu,